Ulrey Butler go 1-2 at the NBCI

NEW YORK, N.Y.– Senior Dorian Ulrey and freshman Drew Butler went 1-2 in the championship race of the 1,000 meters for No. 7 Arkansas Razorback men’s track and field on day one of the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory Track Center on Friday.

"We had a solid day in the middle distances," head coach Chris Bucknam said. "Dorian Ulrey was very consistent with his splits in the 1,000 meters. Drew Butler turned in a great performance and a real never-give-up finish. I was impressed with our DMR, too. We put our young guys on there and they battled. Omar Abdi on the 800 meters and Solomon Haile on the anchor really turned in good legs for us. It was good to see Alain Bailey back in the long jump and he got a better NCAA mark which is what we need from him."

Ulrey won the 1,000 meters in a time of 2:21.56. His clocking is No. 3 on Arkansas’ all-time list, is a new Armory Track Center facility and New Balance Collegiate Invitational meet record. His time was also two seconds off the collegiate record of 2:19.57.

Butler earned a runner-up finish in the 1,000 meters. His time of 2:24.19 is No. 9 Arkansas’ all-time list and was also below the previous facility record of 2:24.36. Sophomore Rick Elliott finished ninth with a time of 2:28.48.

Junior Michael Chinchar (1,200 meters; 2:59.06), freshman Chris Muncie (400 meters; 48.2), freshman Omar Abdi (800 meters; 1:51.5) and freshman Solomon Haile (mile; 4:07.9) finished fifth in the distance medley relay and combined for a time of 9:47.26.

Senior Alain Bailey finished fourth in the championship long jump. His leap of 25-4.75 is a season best and an improved NCAA provisional-qualifying mark. Sophomore Terry Prentice finished 20th with a mark of 22-11.25.

In the 60-meter hurdle prelims, freshman Caleb Cross finished 13th with a time of 8.03, sophomore Andrew Pennington was 33rd (8.48) and Prentice was 36th (8.55).

Competing in the 500 meters, junior Chris Bilbrew clocked a time of 1:02.73 and sophomore Ben Skidmore finished in 1:05.38.

Events will continue at the Armory Track Center on Saturday. For continued coverage of Razorback track and field, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.